“I know we don’t know each other that well, but I was hoping—”
“I can’t go out with you,” she blurted. Remembering her father’s own humble beginnings made Dominique readjust her attitude. Her dad had worked a slew of minimum-wage jobs to put himself through law school and had graduated at the top of his class. “You’re a nice guy, but I just don’t have time to date.”
Marcel forced a smile, but inside he was seething. What was it with these career women? They complained about not being able to find a good man but constantly overlooked guys like him. Status-conscious, Dominique would never consider dating a guy outside of her tax bracket, and as he watched her fiddle with her designer watch, he felt his interest wane. “I don’t have time to date either. I’m involved in several committees at school and busy with assignments and research papers.”
Dominique’s cheeks burned when she realized her mistake. This had to be one of the most humiliating moments of her life. He must think I’m a real snob now, she thought, sinking further into her seat. I turned him down, but he wasn’t even asking me out! Skin prickling with embarrassment, she lowered her eyes to her lap. Wishing she could disappear, or be magically transported back to her condo in Montlake, she bit the bullet and apologized. “I’m sorry for interrupting. What was it you were going to ask?”
“One of the students I tutor is looking for an office administrator position, and I was wondering if you needed anyone at Destination Wellness. Helene is very meticulous about her work, and she’d be an asset to any business.”
“Sure, tell her to come by with her résumé, and I’ll see what I can do.”
The wall clock chimed, and Dominique glanced over at it. Laughter flowed in from the patio, and when she heard chairs scrape against the floor, she stood up. “It sounds like you have a very promising future ahead of you, Marcel,” she said, meaning every word. “I hope everything works out for the best.”
“Me, too, and thanks in advance for putting in a good word for Helene.”
They were joined by their friends and remained in the foyer talking for another fifteen minutes. Marcel grabbed some bags and escorted Dominique and her colleagues out to her SUV.
Mindful of him watching her, she slipped behind the wheel and started the engine. While her coworkers counted their tips, she watched Marcel through the rearview mirror. The muscles in his arms flexed when he heaved the portable tables inside. Her eyes slipped over his shoulders and slid down to the hard walls of his chest. Perspiration dotted her forehead. The rapid acceleration of Dominique’s heartbeat made it almost impossible to breathe. Ordering her body into submission, she put the car in Drive and waved as she pulled away. Her feelings for Marcel were lust-driven, but as she stole another peek at him in her mirror, she knew it was going to be impossible to forget the hot graduate student with the killer physique.
Chapter 2
Sunday morning dawned bright and clear. The sun had a faint halo around it, and a sweet, floral fragrance drifted on the summer breeze, filling Dominique’s Range Rover with its heady scent. Seeing a vacant parking spot in front of Campion Residence Hall, she slowed down and eased her SUV carefully into the narrow space.
Balancing the tray of tea from Starbucks in her right hand, Dominique closed the driver’s-side door with the other. Mindful of the puddles dotting the sidewalk, she strode cautiously toward her sister’s on-campus apartment.
As Dominique passed the engineering building, she was reminded of a sexy hunk with a dreamy smile. Her thoughts were overrun with images of Marcel Benoit. They shared the same interests, and his way of thinking fascinated her. And as Dominique reflected on the hour-long conversation she’d had with him last weekend, she wondered if she should have given him her phone number. Marcel might not be rolling in dough, but he was obviously a great guy—the kind of man who wouldn’t mistreat her or dog her out. Why not get to know him better?
Anxious to see Jenna, Dominique sailed into the Seattle University dormitory and climbed the stairs to the second floor. Jenna’s door was ajar, and when Dominique pushed it open, she found her sister hunched over the desk writing furiously on a yellow notepad.
“I brought breakfast,” she sang, stepping over a mound of dirty clothes. “Now get over here and give your big sister a hug!”
Jenna leaped to her feet. “Dominique, what are you doing here?”
“I came to check up on you. I haven’t seen you in weeks, and I wanted to make sure you were doing okay.”
Within minutes, the sisters were sitting on the unmade bed, sipping ginger tea and munching on apple muffins. A self-proclaimed tomboy with a penchant for hooded sweatshirts, Jenna was the quietest of Dominique’s sisters, and despite being born with a heart defect, the nineteen-year-old sophomore never complained about her health.
“Everything okay?” Dominique asked, studying her sister closely. Aside from the dark rings under her eyes, she looked like her usual bubbly self. “Have you had any more fainting spells?”
Jenna shook her head. “I think the new medication Dr. Petrov prescribed is working. Sometimes after taking it I get queasy, but that’s about it.”
Remembering the conversation she’d had with her mom yesterday, she wondered if now was a good time to discuss her sister moving back home. Dominique didn’t like the idea of her mom living alone, especially since there had been a string of robberies in the area. “Jenna, Mom really misses you, and—”
“I’m not going back home.”
“Would you at least hear me out before you say no?”
Pouting, she crossed her arms. “I’m tired of Mom babying me. That’s why I left. To get away from her constant nagging.” Jenna stuffed her empty cup into the trash. “I’m not a kid anymore, Niq. I don’t need Mom to fix my meals or make my bed. I’m almost twenty.”
“You don’t know what you’re missing,” Dominique told her. “I wish I had someone to do my laundry and cook me dinner.”
“Good, then why don’t you go live with Mom?”
Ignoring the jab, she pointed at Jenna’s disheveled closet and packed clothes hamper. “You’re obviously having a hard time staying on top of things. It might not be a bad idea to go home for a while.”
“I haven’t had time to clean up,” she explained, rubbing her eyes with the back of her hands. “I worked forty hours last week.”
“Why? We agreed that you’d only work at the mall part-time.”
“I need the money, Niq. I have to pay my tuition on Monday.”
“Speaking of which, how did you do on your summer courses?”
Jenna yawned. “All right, I guess. I got two As and a B.”
“Way to go! Your GPA’s going to skyrocket this term.” Wrapping her arms around Jenna, Dominique leaned over and pecked her cheek. “We’re all really proud of you, sis. Keep it up!”
“I’ll try.” Standing, she stretched her hands over her head. “Listen, I better get my butt in gear, or I’m going to be late. The Adult Literacy Program meeting starts in an hour.”
“You joined another committee? Why would you do that when you have so much going on already?”
“Because they’re short of tutors,” she explained. “You should come, Niq. It’s a lot of fun.”
Dominique considered going with Jenna. She could hand out some of her business cards and post some Destination Wellness flyers onto the bulletin board. “How long does it last?”
“An hour.” Jenna tossed an arm around her shoulder, an innocent smile on her lips. “Niq,